Three daughters...Three easy deliveries!

By Tina

Ashley arrives -- our first pregnancy went exactly like the books...until six months. That is when the premature labor started. I was in and out of the hospital and then put on medication to stop contractions. Not a fun drug! Still can't figure out how something that makes your heart race and body shake slows down contractions, but it did.

At 36 weeks, the doctor said it was o.k. to stop medication, and two days later, as I went to bed grumpy because my back hurt, my water broke. Both my husband and I were running around the house making phone calls and grabbing my bags when I said, I don't know what to put on because of all the water coming out. My husband said, Just put a towel between your legs and let's go!

Anyway, six hours later, a room full of people (who claimed they couldn't sleep after our phone call), all cheered me on as I pushed just three times and we had our beautiful little girl in our arms. Both my husband and I had tears in our eyes as we looked in amazement at this tiny little girl. While I was being stitched up and things had settled down a little, I looked over to the corner of my room and saw the most precious sight -- my husband rocking our daughter and softly talking to her.

Next Molly Margaret...With this pregnancy, I started pre-term labor at just three months. I continued to work but had to watch how much I was on my feet. This time, I only had to take magnesium to keep the contractions under control. The only uncomfortable thing about my pregnancy was my lower back hurting and the baby pressing on a nerve in my leg (which could stop me in my tracks).

At 37 weeks, at about 11:00 p.m. I started having very strong contractions. I decided to get in the shower and stay at home as long as possible...big mistake! I could hardly get out! I went to get dressed (on my hands and knees!) and told my husband it was time to go. He said, Relax honey, we have lots of time… HELLO!!! Once he saw me on the floor trying to pull pants on, he jumped in the shower himself. I phoned my mother to come and get Ashley, while having to breathe through my contractions. Ashley, just 3 and a half, was rubbing my leg saying, Mommy, where's your cramp? I'll rub it for you!

After hanging up, I pulled Ashley onto my lap and rocked her, knowing she wouldn't seem so little when I got home. At this point, I got a little emotional. Once Ashley was picked up, the rush was on because it was 11:30 p.m. and I KNEW this baby wasn't going to wait. It seems as if my husband was driving VERY slowly and I was begging him to speed up, but he remained very calm. When I got to Admitting, I was getting panicky and when the clerk says she would get me a wheelchair, I said, No way, that will take too long. Then I began walking down the hallway with my husband trying to keep up with me. Thank goodness my room was ready! I was already taking off my clothes as I got into my room. The nurse examined me and said I was dilated to 8 centimeters. In walked my doctor who broke my water and told me that there was presence of meconium. I started to get upset, but five minutes later our 6-pound, 3-ounce Molly was born. She had a little trouble breathing and had to have oxygen for a couple of minutes and then was o.k. I was lucky this time and didn't have an episiotomy and I didn't tear, so I was up and around in nothing flat! My husband was a very loving coach through this delivery as well. And neither of us could get over how tiny Molly was and only 18 inches long!

And finally...our little Emily Rose. My pregnancy was pretty much like the last with contractions starting at about three months and doing the magnesium thing. Then I had to be tested for gestational diabetes (not fun) and if that wasn't enough, I tested positive for Strep B. I am starting to feel to old for this! Well guess what...this time I went full-term. I had never had to wait for my babies and this seemed like an eternity. On a Sunday I felt a little out of sorts, so I spent the day napping and just taking it easy. I had a few contractions throughout the day but nothing that seemed productive. About 6:00 p.m. my husband and I decided we should go get checked just to see where I was at. They sent me home, as I was just 1 centimeter dilated. By then it was 8:30 p.m. and my husband called it a night...just in case! My big girls and I stayed up to watch a movie and at 10:00 p.m., I had one MAJOR contraction that went all the way down to my toes. I told the big girls to get their bags because they were going to have another sister VERY soon!

I went upstairs and my husband took one look at me and jumped out of bed and we were off. One quick stop to drop off the girls at Grandma's. I called ahead and warned my father that we needed help because I could not get out of the van. On the way to the hospital, I had my arm on my husband's shoulder and every time I would have a contraction I would squeeze the back of his neck and he would push down on the accelerator as if feeling my urgency and then I would tell him, Slow down! It was very comical. And if that wasn't enough, as we were pulling into the hospital parking lot, I hear a pop and informed my husband that my water had just MAJORLY broken all over me and all over the van seat. I didn't know how I could walk into the hospital in this condition, but I did. And wouldn't you know it, a friend of my husband was the security guard at the hospital and he started walking in with us. I was leaving this trail of water all the way down the hall! The scary part though was the fact that I was Strep B positive and I needed to have an IV of antibiotics as soon as I got to the hospital. Once I got to my room I was once again in transition. The nurse was trying to get the IV in me and she kept missing. My husband was getting pretty nervous at each failed poke. The nurse was apologizing and I was squeezing my husband's hand because of the intense contractions.

My Doctor hadn't yet arrived and this baby was crowning. The nurse gloved up and told me to go for it. So as Emily Rose arrived, my Doctor walked in just in time to put her on my tummy. I was lucky once more and didn't have to have an episiotomy or tear, so I felt great afterward. Emily was fine, too, and tested negative for any strep. This time was a little different for my husband and I as a couple. He was more focused and attentive to me and it was a real bonding experience to us as a couple.

Three daughters later, I wouldn't hesitate to do this all again. There is nothing in this world that compares to holding your baby for the first time. When I went into labor each time, I always looked at it as the hardest work I would ever do and did not focus on the pain. It worked for me! I know this is long, but as I started writing this everything came back to me like it was yesterday. Thank you for letting me share my experience.